Automatic gate



H. W. STEVENS AUTOMATIC GATE Jan. 9, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 18, 1949 Hemy W. Sfe vens IN V EN TOR.

Jan 9, 1951 w, "STEVENS 2,537,486

AUTOMATIC GATE Filed Oct. 18, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig.5.

t Henry W. Stevens" INVENTOR.

H. W. STEVENS Jan. 9, 1951 AUTOMATIC GATE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 18, 1949 Henry W. Stevens JNVENTOR.

Patented Jan. 9, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE V 2,537,486 r I AUTOMATIC GATE Henry W. Stevens, Gulfport, Miss. I Application October 18, 1949, Serial No. 122,040

. J 1 Claim. I (01. 39-45) This invention relates to new and useful im' provements in structural refinements in automatic gates, more particularly fence gates, and the principal object of the invention is to facilitate opening and closing of the gate in response to the passage of a vehicle through the doorway.

' This object is achieved by the provision of a vertically slidable closure in the doorway, together with normally inclined approaches disposed at opposite sides of the closure, together with means features in view and such other objects and fea-' tures as may become apparent as this specification proceeds, the invention consists essentially of the arrangement and construction of parts as illustrated in which the accompanying drawings, in

;;. Figure l is a front elevational view of the i'ri vention;

Figure 2 is a cross sectional view, taken substantially in the plane of the line 2-2 in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view, taken substantially in the plane of the line 33 in Figure 2; t

Figure 4 is a fragmentary cross sectional detail, taken substantially in the plane of the line 4-4 in Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a cross sectional detail, taken substantially in the plane of the line 5-5 in Figture 3;

Figure 6 is a cross sectional view, similar to that shown in Figure 2, but illustrating the 010- sure in a partially raised position; and,

Figure 7 is a cross sectional view, similar to that shown in Figure 2, but on a reduced scale, and illustrating the gate in its open position.

Like characters of reference are employed to designate like parts in the specification and throughout the several views. I

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in detail, the invention consists of an automatic gate designated generally by the reference character It, the same embodying in its construction a pair of spaced uprights l'2 connected together at their upper ends by a transverse memo'er l t and defining between them a gateway or a doorway, aswill be clearly apparent.

As is best shown in Figure 4, the uprights l2 are preferably channel-shaped and have open opposing sides and it is to be noted-that a partingstrip 45 extends longitudinally in each upright so as to provide a set of tracks or guides i8, 20; r

A closure member designated generally by the reference character 22 constitutes the gate proper and laterally projecting portions 26 thereof are that the diameter of the bearings is slightly less than the width of the tracks 26, while the diameter of the shait 26 is slightly less than the width of the slots 28,- so that the shaft 23 may move laterally to a slight extent as well as slide in, a vertical direction. Pairs of inclined approaches 32 are provided at the opposite sides of the closure 22 and are equipped at the relatively high ends thereof with pairs of hook-shaped cars 34, whereby the approaches are pivotally mounted on the shaft 26. The cars 34 of the approaches at one side of the closure 22 extend through the closure, as illustrated at 36 in Figure 4.

The relatively low ends of the approaches 32 are movable horizontally on the ground, to which end they may be equipped with suitable rollers 38, as illustrated in Figure 2.

The operative connection between the approaches 32 and the closure 22 assumes the form of a pair of winch units 38 which are mounted at the upper ends of the uprights l2, each winch unit including a rotatable shaft 43, carrying a relatively small drum 42 and a relatively large drum 45 (see Figure 5).

A cable 46 is windable in one direction on the drum 42 while a cable t is windable in a relatively opposite direction on the drum 44, the cables is of the two winch units being anchored to the end portions of the shaft 26 as indicated at 50, while the cables'43 are anchored to the projecting portions 24 of the closure 22 as indicated at 52.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that by virtue of the vertical slidability of the shaft 26 and the horizontal slidability of the rollers 38, the approaches 32 are depressable from their inclined positions to a substantially horizontal position as shown in Figure '7, this being eifected by the weight of a vehicle passing over them. Accordingly, when the invention is placed in use and the vehicle approaches the gate, the members 32 are depressed and the cables 46 are unwound from the drums 42, thus rotating the drums $41 and causing. the cables til-to wind on the latter; so as to slidethe closure-member-ZZ upwardly to its open position. Needless to say, the closure member remains open until the ve=- hicle leaves the approaches at the opposite side of the gate, and it is to be noted that by virtue of the relatively small drums 42 and" relatively large drums id, comparatively, small amount. of depressing movement of the approaches will be sufiicient to raise the closure member to a; suit-- stantial height.

After the vehicle. leaves. the approaches, the closure member 22. descends to it; lowered posi.- tion. and the. approaches: are automatically elevated by the effect of gravity onthe closure-mem-- her, which member is heavier. than the'approachesthemselves. 7

The side play of the shait 26-. in the slots 28; and the side play of the bearings 30 and the tracks: 211 permit theshaft 26.to shift-itself in. the direction of travel ofthe; vehicle; such asrfor. exam? ple, if a vehiclev travels-inthe direction of the; arrow 54 in Figure 4, the shaft 2.61s" shifted.v ins-the.- same direction and the bearings 30 roll along? the parting strips 1-6 and. are .spacedfrorn the flanges 5c of the-uprights l2. On the other hand,,when thevehicletravels in a direction opposite to that shown at54, the bearings 30 roll along the flanges- 56 and are spaced from the parting stripsr I.6..

It. is believed that the advantages and-.useofi' the invention will be. clearly apparentfromthe': foregoing disclosure and accordin ly, further de scription thereof 'at this point is deemedunnecessary.

While in the. foregoing there. has been. shown and described the preferred embodiment of'fthis invention it is to be understood that. minor Lil without departure from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

Having described the invention, what is claimed.

as new is:

Ina vehicle operated gate, the combination of a pair of channel-shaped spaced uprights defining a doorway therebetween, parting strips 58- cured to the base of the channel and dividing the channels into sets of guides, a doorway closure slidable: vertically: in one set of" said. guides, a cross member' extending between' said uprights and being in the form of a shaft, freely rotatable bearing means associated with the end portions of; said:'shaft and engageable for vertical rolling movement within said second set of guides, inclihed: approaches disposed at opposite sides of said..closureand.having their relatively high ends pivotally' mounted on said cross member, the relativelyzlbw ends of said approaches being slidable' drumbeing. connected to said. cross member,.

whereby. said. closuremay be slidto anropen position by the depression of said. approaches.

changes. in the detailsof construction; combina-- tion andarrangement of parts may beresortedito HENRY W. STEVENS;

REFERENCES CITED The following. references are of record. in..the

file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS.

Number Name" Date 608,436 Bowman Aug. 2, 1898 1,327,860 Cassidy" Jan: 13; 1920'- l,474,676" Knutsorr Nov; 20; 1928- 1370!);424fl Walter'et'al; Jan. 29; I929" 1,860,571 Bauer May 31, 1932 29543898 Edwards Sept. 22, 1936, 

